The Flames and Canucks renew their rivalry tonight in the last of five meetings between the clubs. So far the Canucks have had the Flames number winning three of the first four games, including a 5-2 victory at Rogers Arena on Saturday night.

The Flames finally ended their long 13-game road winless streak on Monday in Colorado, defeating the Avalanche 3-1. Roman Cervenka, Mike Cammalleri and Alex Tanguay all tallied for the Flames, while Roman Horak added two assists, including a beauty pass to Cammalleri for the Flames’ second goal.

Horak along with Sven Baertschi and Mac Reinhart have started the Flames slow young movement and Horak and Baertschi should be expected to be full-time NHLer’s next season.

The Canucks are once again at the top of the Northwest Division this season, looking for their fifth consecutive division title.

It has been a little tougher this season with competition from the Minnesota Wild but coming into tonight’s game against the Flames, the Canucks hold a four-point lead with each team having played 39 games.

Injuries have also been a concern for the Canucks this season. Ryan Kesler returned to the line-up on Monday against the Coyotes after missing the previous 19 games due to a broken right foot. With Kesler back, the injury bug continued to bite the Canucks, with both Chris Higgins and defensemen Chris Tanev now out indefinitely with injuries.

Cory Schneider will look to continue his hot play tonight against the Flames, appearing in his 12th straight start where he has recorded four of his five shutouts this season. Miikka Kiprusoff will get the start for the Flames after getting Monday off in favor or Joey MacDonald.

My take is really the same as everyone else’s. The more the Flames lose, the happier I am.

Hockey is all about winning, I cannot say that enough being a hockey coach myself, but when you are in a situation like the Flames are, sometimes the future becomes more important than wins do.

I have liked the Flames effort in their last couple games, which has produced one win and one loss that came in the hands of the Canucks on Saturday. The ice-time Baertschi, Reinhart and Horak have received is the most encouraging to me.

The Canucks look once again to be Stanley Cup contenders but still have work to do in their final ten games, jockeying for position in the extremely tight top eight in the West.

Looking at the standings in the West, I have a hard time seeing Dallas, Columbus, Phoenix or Edmonton cracking the top eight, despite being out by no more than four points.

It is tough to express wanting to see a team lose, especially the home town team but things are hopefully starting to change around the Flames organization and losing is what is best for them right now.

Continue to give young guys significant playing time for the rest of the season will only help down the road as the team continues to get younger.